5 reasons 64-bit processors are the best thing to happen to your Android ever

64-bit technology has been around for over ten years in the desktop arena, but it is finally making its way into our pockets with the Tegra K1 Denver, Snapdragon 808 and the Samsung Exynos 6 and Exynos S. The shift to 64-bit technology in the mobile sector brings with it some technical advantages which have been a staple of desktop PCs and mainframe architecture for a long time. But how exactly will 64-bit processors make our smartphones better? We can give you a handful of reasons.

More memory, faster speeds

The increased address space that is associated with 64-bit architecture opens the gates for exponentially greater usable memory. Whereas the limit was previously set at 4 GB of RAM, 64-bit chips can support 16 exabytes, that is 16 billion GB. Needless to say, the RAM limits are endless with 64-bits. Once new devices have been established with eight or even 16 gigabytes of memory, the true advantages will truly be felt. Because the data throughput of the memory is much higher than that of the flash memory, working with multiple open apps will feel significantly faster. If operating systems are refined even more to be even more power efficient too, we are again looking at exponential speed improvements.

Larger numbers, larger keys, greater security

Thanks to the support for very large numbers, incredibly complex encryption is also possible, which are going to be much harder to crack than what we currently have. Therefore, 64-bit chips will allow you to better encrypt your data against unauthorized access than anything you have seen before.

Faster playback of 4K videos

New instruction set architectures allow for intelligent management of many concurrent commands. This is particularly useful when playing high definition content, because those processes are performed in parallel. In 64-bit environments, the architecture will allow 4K videos to play liquid smooth even with simpler processors because they can leverage their resources better. The reverse is also true this: the recording and real-time compression of your videos will be made easier on your processors in a 64-bit environment.

More detail in games

The same rules that apply for video also applies for games: graphics processing will be optimized for parallel computations. Here the new processors will be able to play to their strengths. Both graphically and in gameplay, the effects of 64-bit chips will be felt in a greater level of detail or more AI opponents. Games will not only be more beautiful, but also more jam-packed with in-game content.

Less power consumption

Talk about 64-bit chips revolves around reduced power consumption and longer battery life for good reason: firstly, calculation times can be reduced, since many complex processes can be divided into fragments run in in parallel; and secondly, the CPU load is reduced, as more applications than ever before can be permanently parked in RAM. Therefore, both your CPU and flash memory can go to sleep for longer periods than before.

Conclusion

The transition to 64-bit architecture was almost overdue. Several high-end smartphones like the LG G3 or the Oppo Find 7 with 3 gigabytes of RAM showed that we had arrived at the limits. These are now passé and a new era is dawning! If you trust Google's statements at the I/O developer conference, on the software side most existing apps should continue to run smoothly following the transition to Android 5.0 and 64-bit mobile computing. The new ART (Android Runtime) environment offers native 64-bit support, and 85 percent of the apps from the Play Store will run immediately in the new environment.

4 comments

64-bit is the future, and more memory access is the result, but do we need always on non-essential apps running? If the advantage of getting your work(or game) done faster, is the result, then why do non-essential apps have to be loaded onto memory? 4 Gigs may not be enough, when the apps become more advanced. Art, will keep more of the app loaded, instead of dalvik, which does a bits, and pieces approach. So, even with 4Gigs, may not be enough, for the apps that will be made to be more advanced, than what we have now. The real advantage will be that apps that have to be referenced in memory now may not have to be to work. Batteries haven't caught up to hardware yet, new tech on that may not be public for a few more years, but 64-bit will help, it's the apps that need to take advantage of that, and be off when you close them, because of the faster access, and load times, there should be no need to keep them in memory.that practice needs to die.

I'm all for the next technological development.My question is...just having bought the 3/32GB version of the G3 is 'how much more speed or capability do you need in a 'small' hand held device'?Even using Miracast in conjuction with my UHD 65" Samsung TV, video and photo replay is seamless and of a very high quality.There is no standing still in tech though, so if battery efficiency, data throughput, security, higher resolution screens and cross platfom compatibility are improved significantly or exponentially, then bring it on.